A conveyor system includes a transport chain with a sequence of interconnected chain links, a guide structure for slidingly supporting the transport chain so that chain links of the transport chain define a substantially flat support surface for supporting articles to be transported, and a motor for causing the transport chain to move with respect to the guide structure along a first direction parallel to the support surface. The motor comprises an electric linear motor including a plurality of magnets, each one located in a respective chain link, and a plurality of propulsion electromagnets located on the guide structure.

A conveyor system configured to allow adjustment of part pitch by moving elements. The conveyor system including: a track; at least two moving elements configured to move on the track; and a pitch assembly mounted on the at least two moving elements, the pitch assembly including: at least one rail provided on at least one of the moving elements; a plurality of nests; and a mechanical linkage connected to the at least two moving elements; wherein the nests are slidably engaged with the rail to maintain linear motion and connected with the mechanical linkage such that, as the moving elements move closer together, the mechanical linkage contracts and slides the plurality of nests closer together for a reduced pitch, and, as the moving elements move apart from each other, the mechanical linkage extends and slides the plurality of nests apart for an increased pitch.

A conveyor system configured to allow adjustment of part pitch by moving elements. The conveyor system including: a track; at least two moving elements configured to move on the track; and a pitch assembly mounted on the at least two moving elements, the pitch assembly including: at least one rail provided on at least one of the moving elements; a plurality of nests; and a mechanical linkage connected to the at least two moving elements; wherein the nests are slidably engaged with the rail to maintain linear motion and connected with the mechanical linkage such that, as the moving elements move closer together, the mechanical linkage contracts and slides the plurality of nests closer together for a reduced pitch, and, as the moving elements move apart from each other, the mechanical linkage extends and slides the plurality of nests apart for an increased pitch.

An article conveyance apparatus includes a carriage which travels along a predetermined travel path, and an on-ground facility including a pair of traveling rails which define the travel path. The carriage includes a first slider which operates according to magnetic action to drive a transfer mechanism, and a drive transmission mechanism which supports the first slider and transmits a driving force from the first slider to the transfer mechanism. The on-ground facility includes a first stator which applies magnetic action to the first slider in the carriage to operate the first slider. The first stator includes an opening through which the drive transmission mechanism of the carriage passes. The opening is disposed in a position such that the inside of the first stator is not seen from the opening in top view of the first stator.

An article conveyance apparatus includes a carriage which travels along a predetermined travel path, and an on-ground facility including a pair of traveling rails which define the travel path. The carriage includes a first slider which operates according to magnetic action to drive a transfer mechanism, and a drive transmission mechanism which supports the first slider and transmits a driving force from the first slider to the transfer mechanism. The on-ground facility includes a first stator which applies magnetic action to the first slider in the carriage to operate the first slider. The first stator includes an opening through which the drive transmission mechanism of the carriage passes. The opening is disposed in a position such that the inside of the first stator is not seen from the opening in top view of the first stator.

A motor assembly comprising a mover assembly and a stator. The mover assembly comprising a plurality of mover assembly units, each unit comprising: a non-ferromagnetic core with a profile of an outer surface having at least two flat sections lying on intersecting planes; at least two ferromagnetic laminated structures arranged on the at least two flat sections of the non-ferromagnetic core, each ferromagnetic laminated structure includes a stack of ferromagnetic plates, each plate is covered with a non-conductive coating. Each ferromagnetic laminated structure is arranged on a corresponding flat section of the at least two flat sections of the non-ferromagnetic core such that side of each ferromagnetic plate is adjacent to the non-ferromagnetic core thereby making the ferromagnetic plates of the at least two ferromagnetic laminated structures lie on intersecting planes. The mover assembly unit further comprises windings of wire wrapped around the ferromagnetic laminated structures and the non-ferromagnetic core.

A motor assembly comprising a mover assembly and a stator. The mover assembly comprising a plurality of mover assembly units, each unit comprising: a non-ferromagnetic core with a profile of an outer surface having at least two flat sections lying on intersecting planes; at least two ferromagnetic laminated structures arranged on the at least two flat sections of the non-ferromagnetic core, each ferromagnetic laminated structure includes a stack of ferromagnetic plates, each plate is covered with a non-conductive coating. Each ferromagnetic laminated structure is arranged on a corresponding flat section of the at least two flat sections of the non-ferromagnetic core such that side of each ferromagnetic plate is adjacent to the non-ferromagnetic core thereby making the ferromagnetic plates of the at least two ferromagnetic laminated structures lie on intersecting planes. The mover assembly unit further comprises windings of wire wrapped around the ferromagnetic laminated structures and the non-ferromagnetic core.

An article transferring device that transfers articles includes: a traveling rail; primary-side stators; a power source; a first transporting carriage and a second transporting carriage each of which includes a secondary-side movable element and transports an article by the secondary-side movable element receiving a magnetic action from the primary-side stators. Each of the first transporting carriage and the second transporting carriage is caused to travel so as to be stopped or change a traveling speed individually by a ground primary-side linear motor system including the primary-side stators and the secondary-side movable element, and further includes a transferring unit that transfers the article in an intersecting direction intersecting with the predetermined path by receiving force from the power source.

An article transferring device that transfers articles includes: a traveling rail; primary-side stators; a power source; a first transporting carriage and a second transporting carriage each of which includes a secondary-side movable element and transports an article by the secondary-side movable element receiving a magnetic action from the primary-side stators. Each of the first transporting carriage and the second transporting carriage is caused to travel so as to be stopped or change a traveling speed individually by a ground primary-side linear motor system including the primary-side stators and the secondary-side movable element, and further includes a transferring unit that transfers the article in an intersecting direction intersecting with the predetermined path by receiving force from the power source.

A conveyor system includes multiple carts that move along a track, along with a plurality of induction motors located along the track to propel the cart. Each cart includes a flipper, and each linear induction motor includes a first linear stator extending along a longitudinal axis of the motor and a second linear stator extending parallel to the first linear stator and positioned a distance away from the first linear stator. As the flipper of the cart passes between the first linear stator and the second linear stator, the cart is propelled along the track.